Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 47

Engaged

The months have gone by really quick. Aiden has been better since Zaid left, and now he's been back to his normal upbeat self.

He's taken up his game.

Both in basketball and in bed.

My legs are sore as I walk outside. The air is cold, freezing my nose, but I don't complain. It's better than the unbearable heat. Aiden's had an amazing first half of basketball season and next year they're hoping to go to the state tournament.

I wrap my arms around myself to keep in some of the warmth.

Winter break is next week, and all I can think about is Zaid.

It makes me feel guilty. That I'm excited that he'll be in town. I've never had a pleasant experience with him, and I should hate him, but just the thought of maybe seeing him again...

I shudder.

Sometimes I get this gut feeling that he's watching me, but when I turn to face the

corner

of whatever room I'm in, he's never there. Of course he's not.

I hate myself for missing his charms, even though they annoyed me, even though

he tested every inch of my sanity when he was here.

I can't explain the way his face haunts my dreams.

That I sometimes think about him, even when it is Aiden deep inside me.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I shouldn't feel this way. I'm with

Aiden.

Zaid is his brother, and whatever chemistry there was between us before he left is nothing.

But I still haven't gotten Aiden to talk about the night Zaid got arrested. Every time

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bring it up, he shuts down, changes the subject, or tells me it doesn't matter anymore.

phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling me from

Come over

me like that and I know immediately that something is off. I stuff my phone back in my coat pocket and head in the opposite

window and waiting for me to get home. He doesn't say anything before

as he

as he shakes his head and I frown at him, feeling strange. He looks upset, running

Alina," he says, his

stepping further inside. "Sorry for what?

of his neck. "I didn't

takes me by the elbow and walks me into the hallways. Confusion unfurls inside me and I have

Didn't know what?"

entrance to the living room,

engaged. It's been almost three

my stomach to twist

rein in the panic fluttering through

answer right away. Something else is wrong,

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the living room, and

of the room, is my

to her is

a second, my breath catching in my throat as I try to make sense of what I'm seeing. My mother... engaged

her finger, an enormous rock glinting beneath the room light. Nausea rolls

eyes and

hand at me as if I

from across the room.

me, his hand at my

and my mother, the uncomfortable tension filling the space as they stand there, clearly waiting for us to

clear my throat, trying to regain some

his throat, that terrible smile still on his face."We wanted to

the holidays, so you weren't

for that," I mutter,

his jaw clenched. He's horrified,

in his eyes, the way

me, her hands outstretched. "Alina, sweetheart,

wonderful news?"

"Wonderful news?" I scoff.

Jake flinches.

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me. "Why are